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Voltaire begins this article by mocking those who claim to beable to reform government based on an imperfect understandingof the world. The article really begins on p. 192 when he raisesthe question of what sort of government a \"wise man, free,of modest wealth, and without prejudices\" would prefer tolive in. Typically, he sets this dangerous debate (remember thatVoltaire lived in an absolute monarchy endorsed by the Church)by placing it in the mouths of two Indians. He begins by satirizingthe republic of ancient Israel (on the top of p. 193).
What doeshe say is the reason there are so few republics (states in whichthe citizens govern themselves)? The republic discussed by thecouncilor which lasted more than 500 years is the ancient Romanrepublic. What moral advantage is it argued a republic has overa monarchy? Voltaire amusedly alludes to Montesquieu\'stheory that different laws are caused by different climactic conditions,but excludes religion from this variability. What does it meanto say that the best government is that \"in which onlythe laws are obeyed?\" (Hint: there is a common phrase inAmerican constitutional law that states \"We are a governmentof laws, not of men,\" which means the same thing.) Whatdoes this last sentence of the article mean? Why do you thinkself-government has been so rare in human history?
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